Even though Philadelphia may be the called "the city of brotherly love," perhaps it should instead be labeled "the city of the well-connected" as nine of its city judges were charged with fixing tickets for friends, business associates, political allies and relatives, according to a new federal indictment. The defendants include six current and former Philadelphia traffic court judges and three suburban judges.
Philadelphia Common Pleas Judge Gary Glazer, a former federal prosecutor tapped to clean up traffic called the indictment "a very positive step toward reforming the institution. It has historically been a terribly troubled place," The Associated Press reports.
What did these unscrupulous judges do? The city judges' associates, family and friends all contacted them to help dismiss and/or reduce the steep fines and points to their licenses, attributed from their traffic tickets.
The AP reports that the judges and their staffs took exhaustive steps to hide the system of "consideration" to shred paperwork, and spoke in code and kept a tight circle, according to paper work.
One of the defendants, Traffic Court Judge Willie Singletary had been kicked out office for personal sexual improprieties to a female clerk via cellphone photos. The indictment also charges him with lying to the FBI, and three judges for lying to the grand jury. Strangely, the AP also reports that the 77-count indictment noted that Singletary had openly campaigned on a promise that he would do favors for supporters.
Other defendants include sitting judges Michael J. Sullivan, Michael Lowry and Fortunato N. Perri Sr.; suspended Traffic Court Judge Robert Mulgrew; former Traffic Court Judges Thomasine Tynes and Singletary; and former traffic court director William Hird, who retired last year.
